Scotland’s National Agency for Youth Work is looking for the very best work being done with young people in and around Edinburgh. Youth workers and volunteers in the local area are being encouraged to nominate entries for the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2015 organised by YouthLink Scotland.
The 8th National Youth Worker of the Year Awards will be an outstanding showcase of the remarkable work that is being done right across the nation. We are searching for a wide range of entries and it’s not just traditional youth workers we want to hear from.
In every local area of the country there are countless examples of people paid and unpaid who do great work with young people. The parent who runs a youth work project on a Friday night, the local Girlguide leader, the student who helps younger pupils who are struggling with bullying or a respected youth work manager at a local council or voluntary organisations.
Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, said: “Every year the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards rightly celebrate the often-unseen heroes who do valuable work in our communities.
“In the past, these awards have recognised a very broad range of individuals who have shown a true commitment to youth work. I encourage everyone in the Edinburgh area to consider people in their community who could be nominated and I look forward to hearing more about the nominees and winners.”
Jim Sweeney, Chief Executive of YouthLink Scotland, said: “These awards are a true celebration of our unstinting belief in our young people. I would love to see each category packed with nominations as there is so much life changing work going on.
“Right across the country in clubs and organisations, on the streets and in the great outdoors, youth workers give of their time to help young people achieve their potential and be all they can be. Youth work is a wholly positive experience that changes lives and adds to the commonwealth of Scottish society.”
Each of the 10 categories for the 2015 Awards will see three finalists chosen with the winners being presented with their award on the night of the Awards Dinner in March, and the overall Youth Worker of the Year will be chosen from across the individual category winners.
The deadline for nominations for each of the 10 award categories is Thursday 18 December 2014. An Awards Dinner to announce and celebrate the achievements of the finalists will be held on Thursday 12 March 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow.
The 10 categories for the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2015 are:
• Youth Worker of the Year (Full-time or Full-time equivalent)
• Youth Worker of the Year (Sessional paid/part time)
• Volunteer of the Year
• Innovative Practice ¬– Team of the Year
• Youth Worker of the Year (Uniformed Organisations)
• Youth Worker of the Year (Intergenerational)
• Role Model/Mentor of the Year
• Youth Work Manager of the Year
• Agencies and Partner Organisations (Worker of the Year)
• Lifetime Achievement Award (Fellowship of YouthLink Scotland)
• Overall Winner (selected from winners of other categories)
To find out more information about the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2015 and to download a nomination form, visit the YouthLink Scotland website at www.youthlinkscotland.org
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